U.S. patent application number 12/352359 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-15 for non linear cutting apparatus and method for its use.
This patent application is currently assigned to CRAYOLA, LLC. Invention is credited to Pamela Dozier, Christopher P. Orem.
Application Number | 20100175524 12/352359 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42318082 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100175524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dozier; Pamela ; et
al. |
July 15, 2010 |
NON LINEAR CUTTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ITS USE
Abstract
A pen-shaped cutting apparatus and a method for its use is
disclosed. The cutting apparatus has a body and a cutter head
pivotally mounted thereto. The cutter head includes a
swivel-mounted cutter housing that includes a cutter protruding
slightly from a lower surface of the cutter housing. The cutting
apparatus enables continuous non-linear cutting of an underlying
surface.
Inventors: |
Dozier; Pamela; (Doylestown,
PA) ; Orem; Christopher P.; (Easton, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHOOK, HARDY & BACON LLP;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
2555 GRAND BLVD
KANSAS CITY
MO
64108-2613
US
|
Assignee: |
CRAYOLA, LLC
Easton
PA
|
Family ID: |
42318082 |
Appl. No.: |
12/352359 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/53 ;
83/698.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B 29/02 20130101;
Y10T 83/0591 20150401; Y10T 83/9457 20150401; B26B 3/00 20130101;
B26B 27/00 20130101; Y10T 83/04 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
83/53 ;
83/698.11 |
International
Class: |
B26D 3/00 20060101
B26D003/00; B26D 7/26 20060101 B26D007/26 |
Claims
1. A cutting apparatus comprising a body and a cutting head
pivotally mounted to the body, the cutting head comprising a
shroud, a cutter housing rotatably mounted to the shroud, and a
blade mounted to the cutter housing whereby the cutting apparatus
enables continuous cutting along nonlinear paths.
2. The cutting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blade is generally
rectangular and the blade is mounted at an angle with respect to a
lower surface of the cutter housing.
3. The cutting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the blade extends below
the lower surface of the cutter housing.
4. The cutting apparatus of claim 2 wherein only a portion of the
blade extends below the lower surface of the cutter housing.
5. The cutting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cutter housing
further includes indicia indicating the location of a leading edge
of the portion of the blade that extends below the surface of the
cutter housing.
6. The cutting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the body comprises
upper and lower stops for limiting the pivot of the cutting head
relative to the body.
7. The cutting apparatus of claim 6 wherein the body further
comprises a pliable grip for facilitating handling of the cutting
apparatus.
8. The cutting apparatus of claim 6 wherein the body further
comprises a handle formed from a thermoplastic.
9. The cutting apparatus of claim 7 wherein the grip is formed of a
thermoplastic elastomer.
10. A method for continuously cutting non-linear shapes comprising
the steps of: providing a cutting apparatus having a pen-shaped
body and a cutting head pivotally mounted thereto, the cutting head
comprising a shroud and a cutting member rotatably mounted to the
shroud; pressing the cutting member of the cutting head against an
underlying surface; and guiding the body of the cutting apparatus
in a desired path of cutting.
11. The cutting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the step of providing
a cutting apparatus further includes providing a generally
rectangular blade, the blade being mounted to the cutting member at
an angle with respect to a lower surface of the cutter housing.
12. The cutting apparatus of claim 11 wherein the step of providing
a cutting apparatus further includes mounting the blade such that
only a portion of the blade extends below the lower surface of the
cutter housing.
13. The cutting apparatus of claim 12 wherein the step of providing
a cutting apparatus further includes providing the cutter housing
with indicia indicating the location of a leading edge of the
portion of the blade that extends below the surface of the cutter
housing.
14. The cutting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the step of guiding
the body of the cutting apparatus in a desired path of cutting
further comprises guiding the body in a non-linear path.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a cutting
apparatus, and specifically to a pen-shaped cutting apparatus
having a swivel-mounted cutter at a cutting end thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention provides a cutting apparatus having a
generally pen-shaped body and a cutting head pivotally mounted to
the body. The pen-shaped body comprises a handle and a housing
received in a channel of the handle. The cutting head is pivotally
mounted to the pen-shaped body at the proximal end of the housing
and comprises a dome-shaped shroud and a cutting member. The
cutting member is rotatably mounted to the shroud.
[0003] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for
non-linear cutting is disclosed having the steps of: (i) providing
a cutting apparatus having a pen-shaped body and a cutting head
pivotally mounted thereto, the cutting head comprising a
dome-shaped shroud and a cutting member; and (2) pressing the
cutting head against an underlying surface; and (3) guiding the
cutting apparatus in a desired path of cutting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] In order to clearly show and make better comprehension of
these and other features and advantages of the present invention,
the present invention will now be described by way of example, with
reference to a specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in
which:
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of a cutting apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the cutting apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of the cutting
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of
FIG. 3 of the cutting apparatus according to the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the cutting apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the handle of the
cutting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the handle of the cutting
apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of
FIG. 7 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a housing of the
cutting apparatus according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 10A-C are several views of a cutting housing of the
cutting apparatus of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a shroud of the cutting
apparatus of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a shroud of the cutting
apparatus of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of
FIG. 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 14 is a close-up cross-sectional view taken along line
E-E of FIG. 12 showing the blade according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1
and 2, which show, respectively, a perspective view and an exploded
view of a cutting apparatus, indicated generally at 10, constructed
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The cutting apparatus 10 comprises a generally pen-shaped body 12
and a cutting head 16 pivotally mounted to the body.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the pen-shaped body comprises a handle 5
preferably made of a plastic material and having a distal end and a
proximal end, and a mount housing 6 for pivotal attachment of the
cutting head 16, and a grip. The handle 5 is formed with opposing
recessed areas 20 having apertures 22 extending transversely
therethrough. The handle further includes opposing posts 24 formed
in a distal portion of the recessed areas 20. Handle 5 likewise
includes a channel 26 extending through the proximal portion
thereof.
[0021] The mount housing 6 comprises two housing portions 6A, 6B.
The housing portions are received in channel 26 of the handle and
each includes a toothed upper edge 28 for aid in gripping the pen.
Each housing portion 6A, 6B has one or more apertures 29 that are
operably configured to align with apertures 22 of the handle 5 as
the housing portions are received in channel 26 of handle 5. The
handle 5 and housing portions 6A and 6B further include threaded
apertures 31 to receive screws 14 to secure the grip housing to the
handle 5. Each housing portion 6A and 6B further includes an
interior recessed portion 40 at a proximal end of each housing
portion. Each recessed portion has a bore 42 extending transversely
therethrough.
[0022] The grip comprises a pair of grip members, 8A and 8B, that
are mounted to the opposing recessed areas 20 of the handle. Grip
member 8A includes a plurality of posts 30 on an interior surface
thereof. The posts 30 are received in a corresponding number of
female members 32 formed on an interior surface of grip member 8B.
The posts and female members extend through the apertures 22 of the
handle 5 and apertures 29 of the housing portions 6A and 6B. Grip
members 8A and 8B each further include a receiving member 34 for
receiving one post 24 of the handle 5. The mating of posts 30 to
female members 32 and posts 24 in receiving members 34 secure the
grip portions to handle 5.
[0023] The housing portions 6A and 6B and the handle 5 are
preferably made of a thermoplastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS). Grip members 8A and 8B are made of a pliable
plastic, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, to provide a softer,
gripping surface to hold the pen. The handle further is
ergonomically shaped to facilitate cutting.
[0024] The cutting head 16 is pivotally mounted to the pen-shaped
body 12 at the proximal end of the housing portions 6A and 6B. The
cutting head 16 comprises a dome-shaped shroud 3 and a cutting
member 50 rotationally mounted to the shroud. Preferably, the
shroud 3 is transparent such that the user can see the cutting
member 50 during use of the cutting member. The shroud 3 includes a
mount portion 52 having a transverse aperture 54 and a generally
vertical aperture 56. The mount portion 52 is operably configured
to be received within the two interior recessed portions 40 of
housing portions 6A and 6B. A pin 13 extends through aperture 42 of
the housing portions and through aperture 54 of mount portion 52 to
secure the cutting head 16 to the body 12. Cutting head 26 is thus
pivotably received on body 12 and has an axis of rotation along the
longitudinal length of pin 13. The cutting head 16 pivots for a
relatively small arc, between 10 degrees and 30 degrees of
rotation, around the axis of rotation. The combined interior
recessed portions of 40 of the housing members define an opening
slightly larger than the dimension of mount portion 52, which
provides a stop for the amount of rotation.
[0025] The cutting member 50 comprises a cutter housing 2 that
secures blade 1. The cutter housing 2 comprises a first and second
cutter housing portion, 2A and 2B, respectively, each having an
upper surface 62, a lower surface 64, and an exterior side surface
66 extending between the upper surface and lower surface. The
cutter housing portions 2A and 2B include a blade mount 58 for
securing blade 1 at an angle such that a portion of the blade
extends at an angle slightly below the lower surface 64. Preferably
the blade is mounted approximately 30 degrees from vertical and the
portion of the blade protrudes approximately 0.006 in. below the
lower surface of the cutter housing. The second housing portion 2B
includes a pin bore 60 on its upper surface 62. The exterior
surface of both the first and second housing portions 2A, 2B, each
comprise an indicia 68 corresponding to the exit point of blade
from the cutter housing portions. The cutter housing 2 is rotatably
mounted to the shroud 3 through a pin 4 that extends through the
generally vertical aperture 54 of the shroud and secured in pin
bore 60. The cutter housing 2, and thus blade 1, are rotatable
about the longitudinal axis of pin 4. The blade preferably is
ceramic, such as zirconium dioxide.
[0026] In operation, a user holds the cutting apparatus in one hand
squeezing opposite sides of the gripping member, while applying
slight downward pressure on the toothed upper surface such that the
blade of the cutting member engages an underlying surface. The
cutting apparatus is then moved along the underlying surface with
the cutting apparatus cutting at a position indicated by the
indicia. The cutter housing 2, and thus blade 1, is fully rotatable
and can easily cut circles or other non-linear shapes, as well as
linear shapes.
[0027] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *